Aubergine Black Beauty Seeds, average packet contents :  50 seeds

Aubergine Black Beauty is a pear shaped, open pollinated variety, producing deep purple fruits. Fruit size is 15 x 12cm. A popular amateur variety, but not as reliable as the F1 varieties available.

Black Beauty is relatively early and you will be picking fruits from August onwards, or when fruits are at least about 12cm long and the skin surface is still shiny, as once they lose the shine they start to become bitter.

General Aubergine Growing Tips

Thanks to new varieties Aubergines are now becoming a popular and easy vegetable to grow at home. Whilst being more suited to the British climate, these varieties still rarely do well when grown outside except in mild areas or during very good summers. As a result we suggest that they are best grown in a greenhouse or polytunnel.

• Sow the aubergine seeds in cell trays and place in a warm position (ideally a heated propagator). Once the seedlings are through transfer to a warm, but light position to prevent the plants becoming leggy. 
• Grow on till the plants are considered large enough to pot on into a 9cm pot. Again keep in a warm and light position for a couple of weeks to get them established. As they fill the pot gradually harden the plants off to prepare them for planting out.
• Transfer the aubergine plants to 30cm (12in) pots of good compost in April (if you have a heated greenhouse) or early May (for a unheated greenhouse). Aubergines can also be grown in the ground, spacing 60cm (2ft) apart. Stake the plants as they grow.
• Remove the growing point when plants are 40cm (16in) high to encourage plant to bush out.
• Water regularly and feed every 2 weeks, move over to a tomato fertiliser once the first fruits have set.
• Misting the foliage down with warm water will deter red spider mite and to help flower set.
• Aphids and Whitefly may be a problem, use of SB Plant Invigorator will usually sort that out.